Zac Purton battled through a mild dose of flu to snare two victories at Happy Valley tonight, Wednesday, 6 June, and closed to within a single win of Champion Jockey Joao Moreira in the Hong Kong title race.
“I’ve got the flu but I’ll take the two winners to make me feel better. I’m getting there, slowly,” he said.
Moreira was absent from the fray, serving the first part of a two-meeting suspension, and Purton struck early in his attempt to make hay. The Australian ace took the second contest, the Class 3 Elgin Handicap (2200m), atop the 2016 Italian Derby winner Super Chic, a comfortable two and a half-length victor as 1.5 favourite.
“I had a lovely run the whole way, he was the best stayer in the field and once he got the run, he was going to be hard to beat,” he said.
Purton had no joy in the next three contests but Top Score (133lb) was on the mark for the former champion in the night’s trophy event, the Class 4 Sports Club Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).